The Eels currently have somewhat of a good dilemma. Who is the future? Is it Ryley Smith or Tallyn Da Silva. Both very different style of Hookers with different paths to first grade. Da Silva was a prodigy from Western Suburbs, playing SG Ball to FG in the space of a few months, only 18 when debuting. Smith was a cricket prodigy while grinding his way through the Penrith system, he impressed so much so quickly he made his NRL debut and stayed in the team ever since, despite only playing 4 NSW Cup games prior.
Now falls the conumdrum, both want to start, both want to be 80 min Hookers. One is signed til 2029, the other signed til 2027. Both are quite young, 20 and 22 respectfully. Where does the future lie? Now this year it is not too big a deal, we can go through the year with Smith and Da Silva as 9 & 14 and be fine. But come 2027, Smith is off-contract with Perth and PNG now in the market. How do you sell an extension if Da Silva is locked up til 2029? Added to that how do you sell it to Da Silva that Smith is staying longer and he is still starting, again with PNG and Perth hanging around extra on market.
I wrote a blog mid last year saying how we went for Starling and Brailey looking for another Hooker, therefore what is up with Smith. I also mentioned that i felt Smith was a good Hooker but did not offer more in attack and that is what Ryles is looking for. I did not jump on the Smith fan club as high as many, well i am getting there. I also defended Da Silva to the hills last year, preaching to give him a pre-season then comment. Well he's had a pre-season and he looks exactly the same. Now granted he has a whole year to prove his worth but he still has not formed combinations, he seems to have not improved the basics of his game. Smith on the other hand i feel is exactly the same too, but has tuned up the basic areas even more. His passing is better, his defence technique is better, he has a go at kicking and can shank one but also put in a beautiful kick. Da Silva showed some terrific running, but his pass are still wayward and defensive reads and technique still need a lot of work. Could it be a case he is still super raw? Of course. This this is where the call for him to go back to Cup and be an 80 min Hooker has merits.
Plus, Moses works better with a somewhat one dimensional Hooker. Mahoney was a Hooker who got him to his best footy, also Brendan Hands for some portion. Both Hookers were just workers with a good pass, Mahoney a world class pass. Coryn said it and he is spot on, Smith is the Hooker we need right now,
Ryles is a coach that will play the best team possible, if he agrees to a signing that doesn't work out he wont be afraid to admit the mistake and move on. Da Silva could be that if Smith continues to perform. That is the problem facing Da Silva at the moment. His role is clear, being that ad lib Hooker that plays eyes up and offers a point of difference in attack. Though Smith has played 22 NRL games, not one of them has he been bad. Maybe one or two where he was 6/10 there abouts but he is minimum 7/10 every week. He is that consistent that Da Silva might not be able to find an opening unless injury. Even then Smith played a lot of junior football, missing hardly any. Da Silva has had some average performances in his limited minutes.
The thing in our favour is if we decide to cut bait with Da Silva should he not work out or want out, he would have suitors to take most of his deal, then we move forward with Smith. Now both players could be open to their roles. Smith playing 50-60mins and plays that link Lock role when Da Silva is on and Da Silva being that 20-25min impact player.
This 6 man bench will help the decision as we can name Da Silva and another forward, but in some games Smith might need to stay in there for what is better for the team. I am not a fan of the 2 Hooker system but Ryles seems to favour it. Brisbane use it, Canberra use it, Penrith sort of use it as do Roosters. Melbourne use a Utility along with Dogs and Warriors. Cronulla are the only top 8 team to go with one Hooker. But will one or the other eventually want to be a starter elsewhere.
Yes, nothing to worry about now, or to worry about at all. But i am curious to see if Da Silva is the one moving forward or Smith just holds his consistency and see Da Silva at a point where he might look to start elsewhere. The latter is more likely.
Replies
Smith can't be replaced, TDS can. Whether it be from within, or from outside, I don't know. Heard good things about Konaikis, but never seen him play. Don't know whether he is a Smith style, or more like TDS but, we need a hooker rotation. Maybe EA or LB can give us some info on Konaikis, is he worth persisting with, would he work as Smith's #2, would they compliment each other or are they similar in style of play.
Coinakis is more like Riley Smith. Strong work ethic with a very sound tackling technique. Not the biggest runner or kicker of the ball. Focuses on effort in defence and good service from dummy half.
Jirah Stewart in SG ball is more like Tallyn. Strong runner of the ball and loves the barge over. But he is only 18 years old this year and no guarantee to be an NRL player.
Michael W. Its a bit like "fattening" the calf, in around about sort of way, not disimilar to Pezit. We need a hooker for a year or two until the junior hookers come through. Whilst TDS is contracted to 2028 I am sure we would let him go to a club that will appreciate his experience.
As you say Ryley Smith will prove irreplaceable and become a Parra Legend. Our next captain after Moses. Fletcher is probably on the way to being Moses back up when Pezit goes.....maybe another win win....
No one has seemingly identified Fletcher for that role, I would be looking after him as well.
The good news is that Coinakis should be ready to go if TDS does pull the pin.
Who doesn't love 2 hookers!
Desilva has a lot of work to do ...He can take over from Walker possibly....but that a monumental step up for him. Smith is light years ahead at the mo. Desilva can do the fundamentals of hooker play yet.
Looking at the 17 players we have and who can cover what positions, I think it is best to have just the one specialist hooker. That hooker should be Ryley, based on exactly what everyone has said, and he is the one that is more likely to push out 80 mins if required.
Dylan Walker needs to be on the field more, and he is ideal coverage for both 13 and 9. We need Walker more than we need TDS in attack.
To add to that, having a utility like Samrani makes even more sense, in the event of injuries. He covers outside backs and edge forward quite easily with his size and strength. He is someone that is starting to hit his potential.
I think we're a better team and a more balanced one if Samrani replaces TDS on the bench.
TDS needs a couple more years in reserves and can come back when Walker's contract ends or retires.
I think the pile on TDS is way over the top. Im not saying the premise of this blog is a pile on. I just mean in general.
He missed a bad tackle in the first game and dropped a ball on the weekend. Outside of that he has just been middle of the road. His service has definitely improved on last year. Its harsh to say he doesn't have any combinations working yet when he hasn't even played with Moses. Ryley obviously has the better service and work ethic, that's why he is starting. Ryley isnt an 80 minute player. I think with a 6 man bench now it would be silly not to play 2 hookers. One for the work ethic and one for the spark.
Moses kicked 2 balls out on the full. Its a trial, players are meant to get the rust out of their game. If Ryles has faith in TDS then so do I.
Just for reference people wanted to sack Kautoga after 2 games last year. Look how he is going. Same with Gutho. Also, think where Russell was at 20 years of age. I'd say 85% of this site wanted him in Ron Masey cup. Now at 23 he's our hero and people are spewing he is leaving. TDS has only played 9 games for us. He will get there.
Agree Eels95, he's showing some good promise, he's still a young pup. His line break against the Roosters is just a small glimpse of what's to come. By the end of the year he will be tearing teams apart like this.
As Axel Rose says, "all we need is just need a little patience"...
TLDR
Smith is our long term starter, if TDS wants to stick around and come off the bench, then good, he'll grow into it.
Smith's tenacity in chasing down kickers is second to none.
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